PSAC leading tackler Ian Wild (90 stops total) is out with a shoulder injury. Photo by Jack Hanrahan/Erie Times-News

If losing five straight games isn’t enough, Mercyhurst College (3-6, 1-5)  is dealing with a rash of injuries heading into Saturday’s PSAC West finale at Clarion (2-7, 2-4).

Senior linebacker Ian Wild (shoulder) – Missed last week’s 28-21 loss at Slippery Rock. Got hurt against California (Pa.) Won’t play Saturday.

Senior safety Bryant Kimball (neck) – Was injured last week.

Senior defensive end Dan Kruper (foot) – Missed last two games.

Sophomore nose guard Dustin Galich (concussion) – Missed last game.

Sophomore kicker Steven Wakefield (knee) – Hurt in Cal game. He kicked, but didn’t punt at Slippery Rock.

These injuries are the most recent ones. The Lakers lost  starting fifth-year senior quarterback Travis Rearick to a season-ending knee injury against Gannon. The Lakers haven’t won a game since.

Travis Rearick made the game-winning, two-point conversion pass to beat Edinboro last season./ETN file photo.

Last season, Mercyhurst beat Edinboro in overtime 22-21 at Sox Harrison Stadium on a two-point conversion pass from Travis Rearick to Trevor Kennedy. It was a tremendous finish to an incredible game.

Here are links to the first and second half/overtime of that game in Edinboro. Image Sports did the broadcast.

FYI. Hit the pause button and give it time to load before playing the videos to avoid stops and starts.

On Saturday, the Scots and Lakers will renew their PSAC West rivalry in a noon game at Tullio Field. Image Sports is broadcasting it live again.

In the last three years since Mercyhurst has joined the PSAC, the road team has won each game between the Lakers and Scots.

In a game that had a ton of big plays, none were bigger than Mercyhurst senior defensive end Dan Kruper forcing Edinboro senior David Bostic to fumble and senior safety Bryant Kimball recovering the ball at the Edinboro 31 in the fourth quarter with the Scots leading, 14-7. The Lakers scored on the ensuing drive to tie the game with 59 seconds left in the fourth quarter when Gerald Anderson scored on a 9-yard touchdown run.

In overtime, Edinboro scored first on a 1-yard run by sophomore quarterback Cody Harris. The Lakers responded with Rearick finding sophomore Terrence Coon for an 11-yard touchdown pass.

The Lakers decided to go for two instead of kick a PAT to tie the game and go into a second overtime session.

So they sent Kennedy in motion from left to right. Rearick took the shotgun snap, rolled to his right and hit Kennedy for the two-point conversion to win the game for Mercyhurst.

“It was a very sick feeling for everybody.” – Mercyhurst head coach Marty Schaetzle about last season’s 14-10 loss at Gannon.

Zach Boedicker was on the run all day, but his last-second decision to throw won the game for Gannon./ETN file photo.

Jason Ladouceur had three catches all last season.

Two went for a combined 32 yards. The other beat Mercyhurst College.

On Oct. 2, 2010, Gannon trailed the Lakers late in the fourth quarter before Zach Boedicker hit Ladouceur for a 73-yard touchdown with two minutes, one second left to give Knights a 14-10 victory and cap one of the most memorable  games between the PSAC West rivals.

“It was a very sick feeling for everybody,” Mercyhurst College coach Marty Schaetzle said.

Below are two stories from the Erie Times-News about the game.

Late score gives Gannon 14-10 rivalry win against Mercyhurst College
Big brother gets last word for Gannon

Earlier this week, ETN sports reporter Duane Rankin asked the Mercyhurst players their memories of the game.

Heartbreak.

Read the rest of this entry »